August 27, 2024

Sisters of St. Joseph hold final golf tournament

REGIONAL
Story and photo by Kathleen Harrington

SPRINGFIELD- The Sisters of St. Joseph held their final golf classic to benefit retired community sisters on Monday, Aug. 26 at the Springfield Country Club. One-hundred and sixty-six participants took to the course for 18 holes of play. Sister Eleanor Harrington chaired this year’s tournament.

“We just wanted to have one last time where we could come together with people who have been so generous to us for so many years,” she explained.

“We were very, very lucky. Over the years, we had eight or ten sisters who could golf. This year we had one,” she said.

The day began with teams teeing off at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start. Many of the players return year after year to support the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield. Members of the religious community waved to the golfers as they held a banner that read ‘Thank you for taking the last ride with us.’

As the morning play ended, golfers were treated to a barbeque luncheon and had a chance to purchase raffle tickets. Sister Elizabeth Sullivan, president of the Sisters of St. Joseph said while there are many returning golfers year after year, there are also new supporters this year. Sullivan served as the tournament’s first organizer.

“I have great fondness for the golf tournament and the people here at the Springfield Country Club,” said Sullivan. “I have a great fondness for all of the golfers, all of the golfers over time. It’s been a great experience.”

Since the start of the golf classic in 1995, approximately $1.3 million has been raised to help care for the retired members of the congregation.

A video version of this story will be featured on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel,” which airs on WWLP-22NEWS temporarily on Sundays, at 6:30 a.m.